Bible: Numbers 13-14

Spies Sent Out

The Lordspoke2toMoses:13:2“Sendout mento investigate3the landof Canaan, whichIam giving4to the Israelites. You are to sendonemanfrom eachancestraltribe,5each onea leaderamong them.”13:3So Mosessentthemfrom the wildernessof Paranat the command6of the Lord. Allof them wereleaders7of the Israelites.

The Spies’ Instructions

13:17When Mosessent10them to investigatethe landof Canaan, he toldthem, “Go upthrough the Negev,11and then go upinto the hill country13:18and see12whatthe landislike,13 and whether the peoplewho livein it are strongor weak, fewormany,13:19and whetherthe landthey livein is goodor bad, and whetherthe citiesthey inhabitare like campsor fortifiedcities,13:20and whetherthe landis richorpoor, and whetheror notthere areforestsin it. And be brave,14and bring backsome of the fruitof the land.” Now it was the timeof year15for the first ripegrapes.16

The Spies’ Activities

13:21So they went upand investigatedthe landfrom the wildernessof ZintoRehob,17at the entranceof Hamath.1813:22When they went upthrough the Negev, they19 came20to HebronwhereAhiman, Sheshai, and Talmai,21descendantsof Anak, were living. (Now Hebronhad been builtsevenyearsbeforeZoan22in Egypt.)13:23When they cametothe valleyof Eshcol, they cut downfrom therea branchwith oneclusterof grapes, and they carriedit on a staff23between twomen, as well as someof the pomegranatesand the figs.13:24That placewascalled24the EshcolValley,25becauseof the cluster26of grapes thatthe Israelitescutfrom there.13:25They returnedfrom investigatingthe landafterfortydays.

14:5Then Mosesand Aaronfelldown with their facesto the ground59 beforethe wholeassembledcommunity60of the Israelites.14:6And Joshuasonof Nunand Calebsonof Jephunneh, two of those who had investigatedthe land, toretheir garments.14:7They saidtothe wholecommunityof the Israelites, “The landwe passedthrough to investigateis an exceedingly61goodland.14:8Ifthe Lorddelightsin us, then he will bringus intothislandand give it to us – a land that is flowing with milk and honey.6214:9Onlydo notrebelagainst the Lord, and do notfearthepeopleof the land, forthey are breadfor us.63 Theirprotection64has turned asidefrom them, but the Lordis withus. Do notfearthem!”

14:10However, the wholecommunitythreatenedto stonethem.65 But66 the glory67of the Lordappearedtoallthe Israelitesat the tent68of meeting.

The Punishment from God

14:11The LordsaidtoMoses, “How longwill thispeopledespise69me, and how longwill they notbelieve70in me, in spite of the signsthatI have doneamongthem?14:12I will strikethem with the pestilence,71and I will disinherit them; I will makeyou into a nationthat is greaterand mightierthanthey!”

14:13Mosessaidtothe Lord, “When the Egyptianshear72 it – for you brought up this people by your power from among them –14:14then they will tellit tothe inhabitants73of thisland. They have heardthatyou, Lord, are amongthispeople, thatyou, Lord,are seenfaceto face,74that yourcloudstandsoverthem, and thatyougobeforethem by dayin a pillarof cloudand in a pillarof fireby night.14:15If you kill75thisentire peopleat once,76then the nationsthathave heardof your famewill say,14:16‘Because the Lordwas notableto bringthispeopleintothe landthathe sworeto them, he killedthem in the wilderness.’14:17So now, letthe powerof my Lord77be great, justas you have said,14:18‘The Lordis slowto angerand aboundingin loyal love,78forgivinginiquityand transgression,79but by nomeans clearing80the guilty, visitingthe iniquityofthe fathersonthe children untilthe thirdand fourth generations.’8114:19Pleaseforgive82the iniquityof thispeopleaccording to your greatloyal love,83just asyou have forgiventhispeoplefrom Egypteven untilnow.”

14:20Then the Lordsaid, “I have forgiventhem asyou asked.8414:21But truly, as Ilive,85allthe earthwill be filledwith the gloryof the Lord.14:22Forallthe peoplehave seenmy gloryand my signsthatI didin Egyptand in the wilderness, and yet have tempted86me now thesetentimes,87and have notobeyedme,8814:23they will by no means89seethe landthatI sworeto their fathers, norwill anyof them who despisedme seeit.14:24Only my servantCaleb, becausehe had a differentspiritand has followedme fully– I will bringhim intothe landwherehe had gone, and his descendants90will possessit.14:25(Now the Amalekitesand the Canaaniteswere livingin the valleys.)91 Tomorrow, turnand journeyinto the wildernessby the wayof the RedSea.”

14:26The LordspoketoMosesand Aaron:14:27“How longmust I bear92 with thisevilcongregation93thatmurmursagainstme? I have heardthe complaintsof the Israelitesthattheymurmuredagainstme.14:28Saytothem, ‘As Ilive,94says95the Lord, I will surely do to you justwhat you have spokenin my hearing.9614:29Your dead bodies97will fallin thiswilderness– allthose of you who were numbered, according to your full number, from twentyyearsold and upward, who havemurmuredagainstme.14:30Youwill by no meansenterintothe landwhere98I swore99to settle100you. The only exceptionsare Calebsonof Jephunnehand Joshuasonof Nun.14:31But I will bringin your little ones, whomyou saidwould becomevictims of war,101and they will enjoy102the landthatyou have despised.14:32But as for you, your dead bodieswill fallin thiswilderness,14:33and your childrenwill wander103in the wildernessfortyyearsand sufferfor your unfaithfulness,104untilyour dead bodieslie finished105 in the wilderness.14:34According to the numberof the daysyou have investigatedthis land, fortydays– one dayfor a year– you will suffer for106your iniquities, fortyyears, and you will knowwhat it means to thwartme.10714:35I, the Lord, have said, “I willsurelydoso to allthisevilcongregationthat has gatheredtogether againstme. In thiswildernessthey will be finished, and therethey will die!”’”

14:40And early112in the morningthey went uptothe crestof the hill country,113saying, “Herewe are, and we will go uptothe placethatthe Lordcommanded,114 forwe have sinned.”11514:41But Mosessaid, “Why116are younow transgressingthe commandment117of the Lord? Itwill notsucceed!14:42Do notgo up, forthe Lordis notamongyou, and you will be118 defeatedbeforeyour enemies.14:43Forthe Amalekitesand the Canaanitesare therebeforeyou, and you will fallby the sword. Becauseyou haveturnedawayfrom the Lord, the Lordwill notbewithyou.”

14:44But they dared119to go uptothe crestof the hill, although120 neither the arkof the covenantof the LordnorMosesdepartedfrom the camp.14:45Sothe Amalekitesand the Canaaniteswho livedin that hill countryswooped121down and attackedthem122 as faras Hormah.123